Golf training device

ABSTRACT

Golf Training Device with a housing, the housing enclosing a battery power source, a light source such as an LED, a microprocessor, a proportional light sensor, an audio transducer and a momentary on/off switch, a flat rectangular surface such as a sheet of thin plastic having a length equal to that of an average putters swing, the sheet coated with non-reflective material such as flat black paint, the sheet also having a centrally located narrow reflective strip attached to and traversing longitudinally along the surface of said sheet, said sheet being placed on the ground or floor during use said reflective strip being interrupted at regular intervals with non-reflective material, said housing being provided with an attachment means such as a magnet or hook and loop type fasteners to allow said housing to removably attach to the side of a golf club head, said LED aimed downward toward said reflective strip, said microprocessor capable of interpreting the closeness of said LED light to said reflective strip so that the amount of light received by said proportional light sensor controls the pitch or amplitude of an electronic audio oscillator circuit, producing an audio tone that varies in pitch or amplitude with the alignment of the light beam over said reflective strip, and said microprocessor also capable of interpreting the speed of said swing by sensing the time between said interruptions in said reflective strip.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to the field of golf accessories, and more particularly to a golf training device.

[0002] The sport of golfing, in which a player swings a club and hits a ball toward a small hole, has become a popular pastime throughout the world.

[0003] Many golf training aids have become available in recent years to help a golfer to hit the golf ball in a manner that it arrives at the hole in the least strokes. Golfers have to first hit the ball a distance to get near the green where the hole is located. Then the golfer has to carefully putt the ball so that it lands in the hole. Part of the skill of golfing is in learning how to swing the putting club in a straight manner so that the ball goes precisely in the direction of the hole.

[0004] Golfers must practice swinging in a straight line so that during an actual game of golf, the golfer can successfully hit the ball in the desired direction. However, there is no way for the golfer to really know how straight he or she is swinging because, aside from actually hitting a ball so that it lands in a hole, there is no feedback coming from the club during the swing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The primary object of the invention is to provide a golf training device that helps a person put accurately.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide a golf training device that gives auditory feedback to a golfer as to whether his putting stroke stays straight on line throughout the entire swing path.

[0007] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

[0008] Golf Training Device comprising: a housing, said housing enclosing a battery power source, a light source such as an LED, an oscillator, a proportional light sensor, an audio transducer and a momentary on/off switch, a flat rectangular surface such as a sheet of thin plastic having a length equal to that of an average putters swing, said sheet coated with non-reflective material such as flat black paint, said sheet also having a centrally located narrow reflective strip attached to and traversing longitudinally along the surface of said sheet, said sheet being placed on the ground or floor during use said reflective strip being interrupted at regular intervals with non-reflective material, said housing being provided with an attachment means such as a magnet or hook and loop type fasteners to allow said housing to removably attach to the side of a golf club head, said LED aimed downward toward said reflective strip, said light sensor and said oscillator capable of interpreting the closeness of said LED light to said reflective strip so that the amount of light received by said proportional light sensor controls the pitch or amplitude of an electronic audio oscillator circuit, producing an audio tone that varies in pitch or amplitude with the alignment of the light beam over said reflective strip, and said microprocessor also capable of interpreting the speed of said swing by sensing the time between said interruptions in said reflective strip.

[0009] The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the golf training tool of the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the circuit of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 3 is an alternate view of a schematic of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

[0014] Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a perspective view of the present invention 100. A housing 2 is attached to a standard golf club head 6 by and attachment means 50 such as a magnet or hook and loop type fastener or other standard fastening means. I should be understood that housing 2 can also be built into a hollow portion behind club head 6. A hollow tube 30 conceals a downwardly pointing LED type lighting device 29, or other standard lamp. Rectangular sheet 14 is painted or otherwise covered with a non-reflective material such as flat black paint or the like. Narrow strip 18 is placed over the sheet 14 in a centrally located, longitudinal fashion. Narrow strip 18 is interrupted at regular intervals by a non-reflective portion 16. The length of sheet 14 is slightly longer than the average putting swing of a golfer. The golfer holds club shaft 4 so that club head 6 and attached housing 2 are held above the reflective strip 18 by several inches. The user then practices his or her swing by moving the club head 6 forward and back as indicated by arrows 8, 10. Ideally, the light source 29 is in the infrared or ultraviolet range and the reflective strip 18 is such that it reflects only the type of light used, thus limiting the effects of ambient light on the light sensor 20. During use, as the club head 6 is swung back and forth and an audio signal emanates from housing 2. FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the electronic circuit of the present invention and its operation. Battery 28 powers the circuit. Switch 40 connects power to the remaining circuit. A light such as and LED 29 is pointed downward through tube 30 as indicated by dotted line 32 and is reflected off of reflective strip 18 as shown by dotted line 33. Proportional light sensor 20 picks up the reflected light 33. The amount of light received by the proportional light sensor 20 controls the pitch or amplitude of an electronic audio oscillator circuit 26, producing an audio tone that varies in pitch or amplitude depending on the alignment of the light beam 32 over the reflective strip 18 thus indicating the location of the putter head 6 over the reflective strip 18. Oscillator 26 sends the resulting signal through an audio amplifier 24 and out through a speaker 22 or audio transducer. In the preferred embodiment shown, the reflective strip 18 is interrupted by a non-reflective portion 16. In this way, the signal is interrupted as the reflected light is interrupted, producing a warbling in the pitch or amplitude of the sound emanating from speaker 22. Changes in the frequency of this warbling indicates the relative speed of the golf putting head 6 along the reflective strip 18. An alternate embodiment of the present invention 100 includes an LED bar graph display 42 shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, as the golfer swings, the golfer can visually see the deviation from the reflective strip. As the club head 6 strays from reflective strip 18, the lit bars on the bar graph 42 would become unlit. FIG. 3 shows the inclusion of bar graph 42 in the circuit. Microprocessor 46 interprets and transmits appropriate information to bar graph 42. Additionally, a memory device 44 such as a flash card can record the most recent swing or swings signals can be stroked in memory for playback The golfer can press a button 38 and replay the sounds and visual display from one or more swings.

[0015] The above description and illustrations show that the present novel invention can be easily used by a golfer to help him or her perfect their putting swing so that the entire swing follows a straight line. The repeated instantaneous audio feedback from the present invention allows the user's muscles to remember the correct swing so that when playing in an actual golfing environment, the golfer will swing in a proper linear fashion thereby reducing the number of strokes necessary to put the golf ball in the hole.

[0016] While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Golf Training Device comprising: a housing; said housing enclosing a battery power source, a light source such as an LED, an oscillator, a proportional light sensor, an audio transducer and a momentary on/off switch; a flat rectangular surface such as a sheet of thin plastic having a length greater than that of an average putters swing; said sheet coated with non-reflective material such as flat black paint; said sheet also having a centrally located narrow reflective strip attached to and traversing longitudinally along the surface of said sheet; said sheet being placed on the ground or floor during use said reflective strip being interrupted at regular intervals with non-reflective material; said housing being provided with an attachment means such as a magnet or hook and loop type fasteners to allow said housing to removably attach to the side of a golf club head; said LED aimed downward toward said reflective strip; said oscillator capable of interpreting the closeness of said LED light to said reflective strip so that the amount of light received by said proportional light sensor controls the pitch or amplitude of an electronic audio circuit, producing an audio tone that varies in pitch or amplitude with the alignment of the light beam over said reflective strip, said interruptions in said reflective strip producing an intermittent sound indicating the the relative speed of said club head. 2 Golf Training Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the addition of an LED type bar graph display is mounted on the top surface of said housing and a microprocessor located inside said housing so that the user can visually see if the golf club head is moving in a straight line. 3 Golf Training Device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the addition of an electronic circuit board contains a standard memory device that can record the user's swing patterns and store them for analysis when replayed at a later time. 